[games_access] A Simpler Tack

[d. michelle hinn]

Actually...a new golf game and pinball game -- at least for PC -- 
seems to come out nearly every year from some developer. And in the 
midwest...I can tell you that these games are really popular in 
bars...still! Yeah, the midwest is kinda behind the times sometimes 
but there's a saying that they use in marketing "but will it sell in 
Peoria?" (which is in Illinois and about an hour from me!). It's kind 
of like saying "but will it sell in middle America?"

So there's "popular" and then there's the quirky things that never 
seem to go away -- then there's all my students who are selling their 
PS3's to buy "retro" (lol) consoles that were made before they were 
born (yes...people born in 1990 are now in college...eeeee...makes me 
feel super old!). Oddly...they are designing a college-age party 
style game that has mini-games that include pinball and golf and 
these are 17 - 21 year olds.

Anyway, "old" never seems to really go away if it's good. So perhaps 
we should think in terms of "classic" genres and "experimental" 
genres -- the die hard "must have latest greatest now, now, now" will 
always shell out for experimental but there still a lot of people who 
still to investing their money into classics.

Just adding my 2 cents (which at today's market is worth slightly 
less than dust) ;) -- I think we can look at both and that both will 
sell. Research money will tend to go to the "experimental" but that 
doesn't make "classic" obsolete. :)

Michelle

>I agree they are old, but I disagree that is bad. Right now one of 
>the hottest "waste time" games is Peggels from Pop Cap Games. This 
>downloadable game is so popular they now sell it on real media at 
>Walmart now. It is a pinball like game. In fact I have 2 disabled 
>friends who told me about Peggels.
>
>There are other examples, Bejewled is nothing more than a 
>modification of Penta (A few 1000 years old is I recall), and that 
>game was a smash hit for being something pop cap developed in 3 days.
>
>Mark
>
>
>
>Eelke Folmer wrote:
>>Hmmmm.......
>>
>>I like the idea but these some of these game genres are pretty "old",
>>I can't remember any recent pinball or golf (except wii sports) games
>>coming out. It's good to investigate such interfaces to gain more
>>insights into how people with disabilities can play games, but the
>>experiences gained do not translate very well to the majority of
>>modern games. I'd like to see more accessible versions of popular
>>games genres such as an RTS (we're already working on that ;-) or
>>games like monkey ball which I think could be translated easily to a
>>one button game.
>>
>>Speaking of another popular game genre that we are trying to make
>>accessible check out this video:
>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UwY0vyCXxg
>>It's our first testrun with our "blind hero", its far from perfect but
>>we made some adjustments and hope to continue testing our prototype
>>glove within the next few weeks.
>>
>>cheers Eelke
>>
>>
>>
>>On 11/12/07, Barrie Ellis <barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>Not sure if this made it through - e-mail filtered this one out I think...
>>>Here it is again:
>>>
>>>  ________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>1. Generic Racing Game
>>>
>>>a. Fully Redefinable controls.
>>>b. Compatibility with Alternative Controllers. Use a basic Arcade Stick
>>>(e.g. Xbox 360 HORI Arcade Stick) as easy to obtain example.
>>>c. Easy Play Modes. E.g. Quick Start Menu System - test tracks - an oval
>>>track - driver assists (see most SEGA F355 Challenge) - barriers.
>>>
>>>
>>>2. Generic Golf Game
>>>
>>>a. Fully Redefinable controls.
>>>b. Compatibility with Alternative Controllers. Use a basic Arcade Stick
>>>(e.g. Xbox 360 HORI Arcade Stick) as easy to obtain example.
>>>c. Easy Play Modes. E.g. ability to switch off wind and slice (see
>>>Everybody's Golf) and a One-button play mode - including menu access.
>>>
>>>
>>>3. Generic Pinball Game.
>>>
>>>
>>>a. Fully Redefinable controls.
>>>b. Compatibility with Alternative Controllers. Use a basic Arcade Stick
>>>(e.g. Xbox 360 HORI Arcade Stick) as easy to obtain example.
>>>c. Easy Play Modes. E.g. ability to adjust the virtual slant of the table to
>>>slow the game right down or speed it up - One-button play mode - including
>>>menu access.
>>>
>>>
>>>Explanatory icon design? Off the top of my head:
>>>
>>>Not sure... I liked Atari's generic bear symbol for "Special Feature" for
>>>Kids. However, times have changed now, and I can't see adults appreciating
>>>that as a mark of accessibility. I think CC should probably have it's own
>>>logo. I can't see main-stream developers going for the "universal symbol of
>>>accessibility" either (wheelchair stick drawing in white on a blue
>>>background). Needs to be something simple, recongisable, and perhaps with a
>>>very small URL showing people where to get info on that particular games
>>>accessibility features.
>>>
>>>Any thoughts?
>>>
>>>Barrie
>>>www.OneSwitch.org.uk
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: Barrie Ellis
>>>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>>>Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 12:29 PM
>>>Subject: [games_access] A simpler tack
>>>
>>>
>>>Why don't we try this...?
>>>
>>>1. Discuss a few game genres that can easily be made more accessible. I
>>>suggest racing games, golf games and pinball. All easy to comprehend.
>>>2. Make a top 3 accessibilty features wish list for each type.
>>>3. Draw up our own Accessibility logos for those features.
>>>4. Contact specific developers. Not Sony - Not Microsoft - but actual game
>>>development PR and management.
>>>5. Offer our support via the IGDA GASIG.
>>>6. Keep a log of our progress.
>>>
>>>Barrie
>>>www.OneSwitch.org.uk
>>>
>>>
>>>  ________________________________
>>>
>>>
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>>>games_access at igda.org
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>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
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